Well-informed patients are their own best advocates and invaluable partners for physicians. As you help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment, remember that the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is here to help you. ASCO offers a comprehensive patient information program so that oncologists can feel confident that they are offering their patients the best possible educational resources. This program is designed to provide patients with timely, oncologist-approved information to help them make informed health-care decisions.

Cancer.Net: ASCO's 24/7 Resource for Patients

The program's centerpiece is Cancer.Net (www.Cancer.Net), ASCO's free patient information website. The site offers information on more than 120 types of cancer and cancer-related syndromes, clinical trials, managing side effects, caregiving, survivorship, and much more. It also contains comprehensive information about how to cope with the emotional and social effects of living with cancer, whether the reader is the person with cancer, a caregiver, family member, or friend.

Content is written in easy-to-understand language and vetted by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board. This advisory board is composed of more than 150 medical, surgical, radiation, and pediatric oncologists, other doctors, oncology nurses, social workers, and patient advocates. This combined effort makes Cancer.Net the most up-to-date and trusted resource for cancer information on the Internet. ASCO is the voice of the world's cancer physicians - and Cancer.Net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people with cancer, as well as to those who care for and care about them.

"Cancer.Net is the premier source of information for patients, for all different kinds of cancer," said ASCO Past President Larry Norton, MD, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs, and Medical Director, Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "I have found it incredibly useful to be able to refer my patients to Cancer.Net, so that they can get up-to-date information that is accurate and spend time with it. They can get the information they need to ask me the appropriate questions. Cancer.Net has proven to be invaluable for that purpose."

This website can be a valuable resource throughout your patient's cancer journey. It is updated constantly with new information, including breaking research news that is summarized to highlight what each study means for patients. There are always new articles, videos, and audio podcasts exploring practical subjects, as well as answers to common questions on such topics as: the cost of cancer care, health disparities, prevention, and policy issues about cancer.

Cancer.Net en Español: Serving the Spanish-Speaking Community

A growing amount of Cancer.Net's information is being translated into Spanish, found under Cancer.Net En Español (www.cancer.net/espanol). This section now offers detailed information on the most common cancer types among Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Other translations include What to Know: ASCO's Guidelines (based on clinical practice guidelines for physicians), information on managing side effects, an introduction to clinical trials, and cancer prevention information regarding tobacco, with additional content planned.

Printed Materials Offer Easy Portability

In addition to its online information, ASCO offers a wide array of printed cancer information, including ASCO Answers fact sheets, guides to cancer, research news summaries, and booklets, including the Managing the Cost of Cancer Care guide. These materials offer portable cancer information that is written in the same patient-friendly language as the website. Several titles are now available in Spanish. There are also free Cancer.Net promotional materials available for display in your waiting room or office. To order any of these materials, visit www.Cancer.Net/ordermaterials.

Patient Advocacy Efforts Important Part of Outreach

ASCO offers a range of programs to engage and partner with the patient-advocate community. This includes events and services at ASCO's scientific meetings, including the association's Annual Meeting where there is a special patient-advocacy booth, research review sessions, and much more. To learn about ASCO's patient advocacy programs, visit www.Cancer.Net/advocacy.

© 2010. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All Rights Reserved.